The Mystery of Everything

Author Hilary Brand
Publisher DLT £5.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9780232532081

Subtitled, ‘A Lent course based around the film The Theory of Everything’, this book enables groups and individuals to explore big issues from excerpts from the life of Professor Stephen Hawking. The movie featured Eddie Redmayne in the main role and Felicity Jones as his first wife, from whose point of view the story was told. Hilary Brand explores the story by focussing on a number of key themes: the experience of wonder, the enigma of weakness, the complexity of relationships, the encounter with frailty and the hope of brokenness. The author has previously used other films, such as Chocolat, as well as the writings of C.S. Lewis to create previous Lent books very successfully. Given Hawking’s known atheism, or perhaps agnosticism, it is amazing that the Christian course model fits, but in fact it works very well, due to Brand’s skill as a writer. She produces some very profound passages. Personally, I was both challenged and inspired, especially by her discussion on human dignity. First class!

Reviewed by CAVAN WOOD

Lenten devotion

The Wind, The Fountain and The Fire

Author Mark Barrett
Publisher Bloomsbury £9.89
Format To follow
ISBN To follow

To follow

Reviewed by To follow

Lenten devotion

Women of Holy Week

Author Paula Gooder
Publisher CHP £9.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9781781402894

This little Lenten treasure is a joy to read and handle, with beautiful illustrations of the nine stories of these women by Ally Barrett. The author leads us through Lent with a collection of the women’s stories – women whose names are lesser known from the bible and whose lives have not been explored in detail – until now! Each woman’s story is given to us in simple everyday language using the Bible’s information but written in an imaginative, modern way. And each story is imaginatively illustrated with particular insight and understanding; the collection then forming a triptych. Every story has a section of notes and resources, giving us appropriate Bible references, additional information entitled ‘it might help you to know…’, and questions for us to ponder during our Lenten study. For instance the three Marys’ lives are explored and if you have ever wondered about the popularity of this name, then the answer may be found within.

This book, as well as accompanying us through Holy Week, would be ideal for a group to study together and reflect on the questions posed by the author. Readers will finish this book knowing more detail about the lives of these nine women as well as feeling enriched spiritually. So who are they? Under the heading of Palm Sunday we read about Miriam, Sarah, Anna and Susannah. Then for Maundy Thursday we learn about Joanna; for Good Friday we hear about Salome; for Easter Eve we understand more about Mary Magdalene. Then on Easter Day we meet Mary, wife of Clopas (John 19.25); and finally on Ascension Day we meet dear Mary, mother of Jesus. Enjoy and give respect to these women…you will not regret treating yourself or a dear one to this book!

Reviewed by SUE PIPER

Lenten devotion